The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 149: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, MO 132 Quelf, especially, was an ardent worshipper of the fair sex. ,; Disgusted — insulted —by the contempt #0 evident in every word and action of Ettie Leslie, he had grown to hate her; and he longed earnestly for one whom he could teach to love im, He had failed hitherto. His distorted form ; his ugly face ; his harsh voice, were not calculated to inspire love and passion in the heart of a young girl, who naturally looks for nobleness and beauty in the person of her future mate. But Quelf was either unconscious of this, or he had determined to succeed in spite of it. Approaching the conch, therefore, with a smile of satisfaction hovering over his distorted lips, he gazed at the new beauty, She was indeed lovely. She was about Quelf’s own a her features, though undoubtedly foreign, had a charm unspeakable. She was well dressed, in a low dress and short petticoats (the dress of a street-dancer), the former displaying an exquisitely rounded bust, and the latter a pair of as pretty and delicately tapering ankles as could well be seen. Rough as were the woollen stocking that en- cased her legs, Quelf could see how beautifully moulded they were; and the dust and the burn- ing of the sun, while it had darkened the colour, had not impaired the form of her shoulders or the gloss of her skin, Her mouth was small, her lips full and cherry red; her nose straight; her eyes, they were closed, but even veiled as they were in sleep, it was possible to see how large and prettily shaped they were. And then hair ! Rich, black, and bright, it coiled in massy waves over her neck, and nestled fondly over her forehead. “Qh ! aloud. ‘‘ Yes, indeed,” returned a voice behind him, and, turning round, he saw that Harrok Dyser had re-entered the room while he had been gazing in rapture at the sleeping beauty. Quelf fiusbed. “Ah! my young friend,” continued the mountebank, before the dwarf could answer him. “ You don’t often find a young girl as beautiful as that now-a-days, She is my daughter,” “ Your daughter ?”’ “ Yes ; and why not? Oh! your’e thinking of her looks and mine, Bless you, I was good- looking enough when I was young; at any rate, I was never 80 ugly as you. But her mother,’’ added Dyser, with a sigh, “her mother! ob! you should have seen her! She was as lovely as an angel. She was an Italian.” “And you let her dance in the” street; this beautiful girl?” said Quelf. “Yes; why should I not? She brings in money, and, what is more, she knows how to take care of herself, But, come; a lady desires to see you. Follow me, This way.” The mountebank led the way along the passage once more, and entered a front room. eighteen, and how beautiful she is,” said Quelf, Here, sitting in a chair by the fire, was a lady, approaching the age of forty in all appearance ; her face pale, her skin fair, her hair hanging in ringlets around her careworn features. Quelf stood before her an instant in surprise. Then, with a sudden impulse, he sprang for- ward, and knelt before her. ‘‘The Queen !” he said. ‘‘There, Harrok,” said Henrietta Maria, turn- ing to the mountebank, “what did I tell you? Even this boy knows me, What can I do to conceal myself from others? Rise, boy. Where have you seen me that you know me a0 readily even in this wretched house?” Quelf at once rose. ‘¢ Madam,” he said, *‘on one occasion I was nearly ridden down by your guards, and should have been killed if you yourself had not saved me. I have never forgot it, your majesty, and never shall, They jeered at me, and scoffed me, and called me‘ imp ’ and ‘hunchback ;’ but they soon stopped when they saw your gracious hand was extended to aid me.” ‘‘ Your memory is better than mine, boy,” re- turned the queen; “but, since you know me, and others may do also, I must wear a disguise. Do you know what this letter is which you have brought me?” ‘No, your majesty. It was given me only as a sacred treasure to be defended with my life.” Henrietta Maria, Charles the First’s beautiful queen, had all through life been easily deceived. “ This is no traitor,” she thought, *‘T will tell you, then,” she said, “‘ what is re- quired of you. Lord Raymond tells me in this letter that you are the captain of a brave band of apprentices, who could form a guard for me in my flight to the sea-coast, Thus I should have to trust neither to troops or false friends. I wish to leave London to-morrow night, and should wish you to bring here with you some six of the bravest and most enérgetic of your friends. No one must know, however, who I am or where we are going. Can you undertake this ?’ ‘For myself I can answer,” said Quelf ; ‘ but most of my friends are in prison, arrested be- cause they were fighting for our unfortanate king. I will try my best, notwithstanding, your majesty, and will be here to-morrow night at any hour you may name.” ‘Very well, at ten to-morrow night, then, I shall expect you. Tell my Lord Raymond that all is arranged ; say that I have striven to the last for my king, and that it is only now, at bis earnest solicitations, that I consent to leave England, in order to beg the intervention of France. Now go, and remember that your queen will be in your charge.” Quelf bent low and quitted the room. ‘Return to the chamber where yon first en- tered,” said Harrok. “I will be with you ina few minutes.” Expecting naturally that he would again be- hold the lovely form of Harrok’s daughter, Quelf at once obeyed, and left the queen and the mountebank together. ‘Well, your majesty,’ said Harrok, as soon as they were alone once more, “What think you of this distorted imp ?” GOVE OO ©